It Happened In Crawford County

“He huffed and puffed and blew the house down” — the well known storybook tale relates to this story, and how “Rocks Brought the House Down.”

Connie Fischer was raised near the National Lime and Stone Quarry, referred to as the “Quarry,” at Bethel and Spore Brandywine roads north of Bucyrus. The Quarry covers one square mile, and is very deep.

Connie finished high school at Holmes-Liberty, planning to become a nurse. Connie met and married Roger Long in 1962, and they moved to their remodeled home near the Quarry. Twenty-eight years later the Quarry owners came knocking, offering to buy the home that is situated on 10 acres. They have a big appetite for rocks, and also gobbled up three other properties. When property owners sit on land with piles of rocks underneath, its inevitable the Quarry will need it, and so it was that “house number one” met its demise. The move was to a home on the same Knauss Road.

Seventeen years later, the rock hunters came knocking at the door a second time. National Lime and Stone purchased the Long home again.

The inspiration for this story came when I remembered buying sets of drawers from the fated house at a garage sale. They became my workshop desk after Ed Fox fitted a top onto the drawers. I often thought about Connie and the challenge to move again. By now, Connie was making the decisions on her own, being widowed in 1967.

The Quarry’s zest for rocks didn’t end there. The third, and hopefully the last, move was to Temple Road. This time her life came full circle — back to the home place where she was born to C.J. and Grace Fischer. There were many fond memories growing up there with her sisters Patricia (Caldwell) and Sandra (Redman).

In preparing for the third move, the front part of the home, made of logs, was torn down. The logs were numbered for a buyer in Asheville, N.C., for a chalet. Recently, Connie, Rob and Pat Caldwell visited the log chalet for an overnight stay. The inside was done in white pine, with a loft, and was beautiful. The family home on Temple Road had a typical frame structure behind the log part, and it was also torn down.

Connie moved to her new, third home seven years ago, and she dares the Quarry to come her way again. However, they are stripping the stone right across the road now, and she is used to the crushing sounds, dynamite and the noise of big equipment. One of the homes had a big rock come through the roof during the blasting process, resulting in a large hole. On occasion, neighboring wells get broken lines and the Quarry replaces them.

Connie is always looking for cracked plaster in her home. Employees of the quarry bring sizer tools to stick down into the ground to measure how much vibration the process is causing.

One fond memory was of her dad curled up in his chair, wanting to rest, but she had a different idea. She styled his hair with those old metal clamps that made finger waves. The old reading lamp served as the hair dryer, and she turned her skills from nursing to fixing hair. Maybe it was the magic of a little girl’s memory that inspired her to become a beautician.

Connie trained at Columbus Beauty School and took her first job with Florence’s (Nickler’s) Beauty Shop from 1958 to 1960. Connie bought the shop in 1961 and moved it to South Sandusky Avenue, across from Wendy’s. Her sister Sandy worked for her about 5 years.

Connie worked at the Curl Corner on Wayne Avenue 14 years, and has worked a total of 34 years as a stylist. Connie works primarily at Heartland Nursing Home, too, and in other nursing homes. The one-on-one time between Connie and the residents makes them feel good, and adds to their well-being.

One suspects the place to find out the “real news” around town would be at a salon. Connie fondly recalls her customers’ stories. Her late husband was from Chatfield, so she styles hair for many friends and family from that area. She really got to know the entire west side of the county and all the family relationships. Connie has been a strong lady going about her life, mostly alone, and enjoying the nephews and nieces and their friends. She has served on Good Hope Lutheran’s Church Council; the Bratwurst Festival Board; and Beta Sigma Phi Sorority. Hobbies are gardening, knitting and reading.

Readers if you are interested in genealogy or sharing a story email or write Crawford County Genealogy Society, 931 Marion Road, Bucyrus, OH 44820 Mary Fox email Littlefoxfactory@columbus.rr.com.